With the Beatles is a sequel of the highest order – one that betters the original by developing its own tone and adding depth. While it may share several similarities with its predecessor – there is an equal ratio of covers-to-originals, a familiar blend of girl group, Motown, R&B, pop, and rock, and a show tune that interrupts the flow of the album – With the Beatles is a better record that not only rocks harder, it's considerably more sophisticated…

The Beatles were undoubtedly one of the most influential bands ever, with clear similarities still noticeable in many hits of the nineties. Almost anyone who has picked up a guitar has probably learned to play something from the enormous repertoire of songs written by the legendary Lennon and McCartney combination.

Considering the quality of the original material on With the Beatles, it shouldn't have been a surprise that Lennon & McCartney decided to devote their third album to all-original material. Nevertheless, that decision still impresses, not only because the album is so strong, but because it was written and recorded at a time when the Beatles were constantly touring, giving regular BBC concerts, appearing on television and releasing non-LP singles and EPs, as well as filming their first motion picture…